Top Chiang Mai Tips - Your Insider Tips for Chiang Mai

The beautiful and relaxing city of Chiang Mai is a highlight of many a traveller’s trip to Thailand.

We asked you over on our Facebook page for your top Chiang mai tips. Here's what you told us...

Take Thai cooking lessons

Rachel A Davis says:

Take a vegetarian Thai cooking lesson at May Kaidee's Restaurant branch there. Amazing. I had the lesson to myself and it was so much fun. Explored the market then made lots of delicious food.

Kiara Gallop says:

Gap's Cookery School...been for cooking classes twice with them on separate visits to Thailand and both times they exceeded my expectations - by far the best I've been to in any country.

Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Hilary Grant says:

Go to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep on New Years Day, beautiful!

Hugues Lavergne says:

Go visit the Doi Suthep moutain just outside the town. We did some mountain biking and it was awesome!

Luciana Villalba says:

Doi Suthep Temple... it was a magical day.

Jon Thorne says:

Doi Suthep Temple.

Ver Bo says:

Make a half-day-trip to the Nagas Steps, Wat Doi Suthep Temple, you'll have an amazing view out of the jungle.

Follow the monks around

Hânder Costa Leal says:

For those who love getting in touch with the locals, I would recommend to wake up very early in the morning and follow the monks during their daily alms round to the gate market, right next to the south gate of the old city. For sure an amazing and picturesque cultural experience!

Head out to Chang Rai

Andy Bettolli says:

A one-day adventure trip to Chang Rai and the golden triangle, including a raft ride. Expect to get wet as the local kids love splashing water on the tourists. It's all fun as they don't mind getting splashed back!

See the elephants - ethically

Kate Griffiths says:

A trip to Elephant Nature Park to see these gorgeous animals just being them rather than paying for them to be harmed in the normal tourist tours. Did you know a seat on an elephants back is harmful as their back is weak? Or how a domesticated elephant is trained? Neither did I until I was shown the reality here. Eco tourism at its finest. Beautiful natural valley, beautiful caring people and amazing elephants.

Laura Mariana says:

Elephant Nature Park! Where you can be volunteer and work for the elephant conservation, the best experience ever!

Joan Carol Kiernan says:

Visit the Elephant Nature Park....it's brilliant.

Andrew Buykx-Smith says:

Elephant sanctuary - not as touristy as most. Hear some amazing stories about elephants that lost limbs in the war and their rehab process.

Get on your bike

Tomas O' Mahoney says:

Special Go mountain biking!

Will Brownlee says:

Hire a bicycle for exploring the city! The roads are excellent and it's a much better way to get around than walking. Plus there are no buses (only cabs) and it's a small city anyway!

The Weekend Night Market is amazing and not one to be missed! Ordinary streets are turned into a spectacular maze of vendors selling unique and original items ranging in everything from artisan crafts to locally produced clothes to mouth-watering food.

Eat well

Patrick Labuca says:

Don't miss out on a traditional Khantoke dinner, and try Khao Soi noodles!

Tony Rigby says:

Don't miss the Lanna Food Court in the basement of Airport Plaza shopping mall - the best food deal in Chiang Mai.

See the views at Doi Inthanon

Nitchaya Ormsin says:

Go to Doi Inthanon for nice waterfalls and super great nature trial!

Patrick Labuca says:

Go up to the roof of Thailand at Doi Inthanon, fantastic views from its beautiful temple up there.

Get the blues

Jenny Burns says:

Visit Boy Blues Bar near the night bazaar! Fantastic music and great company from Boy, the band and the barman!

Kate Brennenstuhl says:

Boy Blues Bar - wonderful place to relax after a day of sightseeing and shopping. Top notch live blues and great crowd. You'll find it on top of the Kalare food court in the night market!

Be front row at the boxing

Alicia Drelick says:

Splurge on ringside seats at a Muay Thai boxing match! It is totally reasonable and a great experience.

Catch the Festival of Light

Kiara Gallop says:

If you can, time your visit so that you catch Loi Krathong (festival of light). Beautiful, colourful parades and the most awesome sight - watching thousands of Chinese lanterns being released into the sky.

Just relax

Lucy Pilgrim says:

Take some time to just enjoy the peace and tranquility; you can happily spend a day relaxing amongst the temples.

Daniella Gutiérrez Paviolo says:

Cooking lessons, massages and just relax.

And that's not all... You can find even more great tips from our Facebook fans here and here. Hopefully these top tips will help you make to most of your visit to Chiang Mai.

The beautiful and relaxing city of Chiang Mai is a highlight of many a traveller’s trip to Thailand.

We asked you over on our Facebook page for your top Chiang mai tips. Here's what you told us...

Take Thai cooking lessons

Rachel A Davis says:

Take a vegetarian Thai cooking lesson at May Kaidee's Restaurant branch there. Amazing. I had the lesson to myself and it was so much fun. Explored the market then made lots of delicious food.

Kiara Gallop says:

Gap's Cookery School...been for cooking classes twice with them on separate visits to Thailand and both times they exceeded my expectations - by far the best I've been to in any country.

Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Hilary Grant says:

Go to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep on New Years Day, beautiful!

Hugues Lavergne says:

Go visit the Doi Suthep moutain just outside the town. We did some mountain biking and it was awesome!

Luciana Villalba says:

Doi Suthep Temple... it was a magical day.

Jon Thorne says:

Doi Suthep Temple.

Ver Bo says:

Make a half-day-trip to the Nagas Steps, Wat Doi Suthep Temple, you'll have an amazing view out of the jungle.

Follow the monks around

Hânder Costa Leal says:

For those who love getting in touch with the locals, I would recommend to wake up very early in the morning and follow the monks during their daily alms round to the gate market, right next to the south gate of the old city. For sure an amazing and picturesque cultural experience!

Head out to Chang Rai

Andy Bettolli says:

A one-day adventure trip to Chang Rai and the golden triangle, including a raft ride. Expect to get wet as the local kids love splashing water on the tourists. It's all fun as they don't mind getting splashed back!

See the elephants - ethically

Kate Griffiths says:

A trip to Elephant Nature Park to see these gorgeous animals just being them rather than paying for them to be harmed in the normal tourist tours. Did you know a seat on an elephants back is harmful as their back is weak? Or how a domesticated elephant is trained? Neither did I until I was shown the reality here. Eco tourism at its finest. Beautiful natural valley, beautiful caring people and amazing elephants.

Laura Mariana says:

Elephant Nature Park! Where you can be volunteer and work for the elephant conservation, the best experience ever!

Joan Carol Kiernan says:

Visit the Elephant Nature Park....it's brilliant.

Andrew Buykx-Smith says:

Elephant sanctuary - not as touristy as most. Hear some amazing stories about elephants that lost limbs in the war and their rehab process.

Get on your bike

Tomas O' Mahoney says:

Special Go mountain biking!

Will Brownlee says:

Hire a bicycle for exploring the city! The roads are excellent and it's a much better way to get around than walking. Plus there are no buses (only cabs) and it's a small city anyway!

The Weekend Night Market is amazing and not one to be missed! Ordinary streets are turned into a spectacular maze of vendors selling unique and original items ranging in everything from artisan crafts to locally produced clothes to mouth-watering food.

Eat well

Patrick Labuca says:

Don't miss out on a traditional Khantoke dinner, and try Khao Soi noodles!

Tony Rigby says:

Don't miss the Lanna Food Court in the basement of Airport Plaza shopping mall - the best food deal in Chiang Mai.

See the views at Doi Inthanon

Nitchaya Ormsin says:

Go to Doi Inthanon for nice waterfalls and super great nature trial!

Patrick Labuca says:

Go up to the roof of Thailand at Doi Inthanon, fantastic views from its beautiful temple up there.

Get the blues

Jenny Burns says:

Visit Boy Blues Bar near the night bazaar! Fantastic music and great company from Boy, the band and the barman!

Kate Brennenstuhl says:

Boy Blues Bar - wonderful place to relax after a day of sightseeing and shopping. Top notch live blues and great crowd. You'll find it on top of the Kalare food court in the night market!

Be front row at the boxing

Alicia Drelick says:

Splurge on ringside seats at a Muay Thai boxing match! It is totally reasonable and a great experience.

Catch the Festival of Light

Kiara Gallop says:

If you can, time your visit so that you catch Loi Krathong (festival of light). Beautiful, colourful parades and the most awesome sight - watching thousands of Chinese lanterns being released into the sky.

Just relax

Lucy Pilgrim says:

Take some time to just enjoy the peace and tranquility; you can happily spend a day relaxing amongst the temples.

Daniella Gutiérrez Paviolo says:

Cooking lessons, massages and just relax.

And that's not all... You can find even more great tips from our Facebook fans here and here. Hopefully these top tips will help you make to most of your visit to Chiang Mai.